Lance, Lance, Lance: More Lance Armstrong News From Around The World

December 18, 2008

Alluding to the fact that Lance Armstrong is everything to the world of cycling, Australia’s Tour Down Under will be nationally televised. The AP is saying that VERSUS, the company that airs the Tour de France, has struck a deal to air Lance Armstrong’s big return to cycling spectacular. The Australian Tour Down Under should be an interesting event. Lance Armstrong will share the honors of becoming the second Tour de France champion in this year’s Tour Down Under. Organizing authorities say that this is the first time that two former Tour de France champions have competed in the Australian race. By the way, the second Tour de France winner to take part will be Oscar Pereiro, winner of the 2006 Tour de France.

Lance’s Trainer Speaks Out

Giro d’Italia Course Set

Graham Bensinger recently had the chance to talk with Lance Armstrong’s personal trainer for The Huffington Post. This conversation is significant in the fact that Lance’s trainer actually mentions that he tried to talk Lance out of coming out of retirement. Lance went against his word and made the decision. Lance’s trainer, Chris Carmichael, says that he wanted Lance to have his honest opinion, but now that the decision has been made, he supports him fully. Camichael is also asked about Lance’s feelings if he doesn’t win this year’s Tour de France. He had this to say:

Well, let me tell you. Lance is not going back to the Tour de France to finish second. It’s obviously a very big challenge and he recognizes that, but his standard is winning.

I think that answer is a given. I don’t think any of us would believe that Lance decided to ride the Tour for the exercise. If Lance is involved, you can be assured that he will be trying to do his best. If I were riding in the Tour 1)I would be amazed, but most importantly 2) I would be scared of being totally dominated byLance. Yeah. I would bail out before it started.

Organizers have unveiled the planned route for the 2009 Giro d’Italia. Lance Armstrong will be riding this event to tune up for the 2009 Tour de France. lance’s race (as it is being referred to in the press) will begin with a team trial in Venice, then end with an individual race against the clock near Rome’s ancient ruins. The scenery sounds nice, but what about the rest of the course?

In total there will be 12 stages to the 2009 Giro d’Italia. Five of those will be mountain stages, while one will represent a 38.3 mile individual time trial. So what does lance think about the course?

An exciting first week, already in the fourth and fifth stages the Alps could play a factor, especially if the weather is bad. The second week, I think, is highlighted by a long time trial. For me, a professional, I’ve never done a 62-kilometer time trial. That’s going to be a critical day.

This is coming from another AP article. The Associated Press is really loving Lance Armstrong today. I am sure the whole cycling industry is going to be loving this upcoming year, thanks mostly to the coverage that Lance brings to any event he is associated with.

By the way…You guys dig the two columns? ? That’s a new trick I just learned. haha.

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